7 myths about sleep you need to stop believing now

Are you a sensitive sleeper who wakes up at the slightest noise, is perturbed by partner’s movements or simply can’t get to sleep if too worried or stressed? Getting a good night’s sleep is hard enough for many, and there is too much information regarding sleep problems. So to clear out all the misconceptions, let’s push the needle forward and get our sleep facts right. Here are 7 myths you need to get out of your mind to rest easy because being ignorant leads to insomnia.

I will catch up on my sleep during the weekend

Sleep is not something tangible that you can deposit and withdraw later. It is important to stick to a schedule for seven days a week. As nice as it is to relax in the bed all weekend, it is vital to get enough sleep each day to improve your energy level.

A warm cozy bedroom will help you fall asleep easily

Nope! According to the University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine, the ideal temperature for sleeping is 68 degrees since it enables a fall in the body’s core temperature leading you to fall asleep. Another reason to turn down your thermostat – a cold bedroom will also help you burn more calories and speed up metabolism.

I need eight hours of sleep every night

There is no magic number of hours for how much sleep you need. Some feel revived even after a six-hour or as long as 10-hour sleep regime. What matters is that you stay asleep long enough to enable you to be well-rested and energized the next day.

Napping ruin’s night-time sleeping

Do you ignore napping just to get a good night-time sleep? Next time think about it, as, a power nap or a 10-20 minutes nap will do wonders to revive your productivity levels. Relax, close your eyes, get comfortable but not too much. Napping this way de-stresses your nervous system and can actually make you sleep better at night.

Alcohol helps you sleep

It helps you pass out rather than sleep! Alcohol is detrimental to the sleep cycle as it interrupts the restorative functions of sleep. This means that once alcohol clears your system, say after four hours you fall asleep, the brain stirs up and you eventually wake up.

It’s not normal to wake too much through the night

It is ok to wake up. In fact, an adult can wake up 8-10 times as long as you are not coming to full consciousness. The key is to relax as much as possible, focus on your breathing and allow yourself to rest.

Old adults can get away with less sleeping

Perhaps this feeling stems from your memories of grandma and grandpa who wake earlier. However, even if they struggle to sleep well during the night, sleep requirements do not decrease with age.

So, how many of these sleep myths did you believe? Bust these myths and sleep away heartily!